The first four-star hotel in El Cajon is about ready to open its doors later next month.

Rachel Lynch, director of sales for Courtyard by Marriott San Diego El Cajon, said the long-awaited hotel is expected to open on or around Feb. 22. Marriott staff is putting the final touches on the hotel, which will open once it has been given the go-ahead from the fire marshal.

“We’ve been advocating for this level of hotel for years,” said Mayor Bill Wells. “I think it will be great for the whole El Cajon community.”

The four-story, 88,000-square-foot hotel at Magnolia and Rea is next to the El Cajon Police station and a parking lot separates it from the East County Performing Arts Center, set to reopen soon.

The 120-room hotel features:

A bistro serving three meals a day;

A full-service bar;

A 24-hour market;

A heated swimming pool and spa;

A grassy courtyard;

Outdoor dining areas;

Fitness center;

Business center;

4,900 square feet of meeting space;

Two commercial lease spaces on the ground floor.

The city with 18 motels is expected to break ground later this year on a second major hotel, Hampton Inn by Hilton. That one will be near Parkway Plaza, on the site of the old police station.

Eldonna Lay, El Cajon Historical Society member and author, said the “attractive redevelopment of downtown” over the past 10 years led to top hoteliers coming into the city.

“It's a long-awaited triumph for everyone,” Lay said.

Alcohol will be allowed on site at the dining establishments. Parking will be available for more than 100 cars on site, and more spaces are available nearby.

Initially, the city planned to sell the property to Marriott for $1 with an incentive plan for shared transient occupancy tax reimbursements. But the City Council later approved selling the land for $1.23 million and agreed on a new TOT plan.

In the first five years of operation, Marriott will keep all its TOT fees; from years six through 10, Marriott and the city will split TOT fees 50-50; and from the 11th year and beyond, El Cajon will get all the TOT fees.